When is the last time you saw a bunch of adults outside your house rollerblading?

Normally you’ll see family walks, or kids riding bikes and sometimes rollerblading. But you rarely see adults rollerblading around your neighborhood.

Did we forget how? Are we so old now are bodies can’t handle what it once could as kids?

Honestly, lets scratch that narrative and get adults back into rollerblading!

Memory Lane

I used to rollerblade ALL THE TIME when I was in high school. One of my best friends and I would do a 4 mile trek outside the perimiter of our neighborhood.

On occasions, we’d venture off into different surrounding neighborhoods and try to get ourselves lost just to see if we could figure out our way back.

I remember being in love with the feeling rollerblading gave me, and then one day I guess I just stopped.

Moving away to college, then grad school, with work in between I probably didn’t have the time. Or maybe it was because I was scared to go by myself, because if I fell I knew I would be embarrassed?

The excuses are pointless, because they both kept me away from a great physical workout and a ton of fun.

New Blades Who Dis?

If you have been following my PE journey, you would have seen my other articles about current ways to stay active.

One of my posts Take the 90-Day Body and Mind Transformation Challenge with me, you’ll see my current fitness goals. I’ve noted that I hold myself accountable to run 5 days a week, walk my dog daily, and do my daily morning yoga, along with a few other obtainable goals.

Another topic I touch on is how TikTok can actually keep us in shape. This post is all about having fun with working out. You can make a 15 second workout TikTok, but get a 45 minute full body, fat burning workout. (Click the article to find out how)

Now in my mind, all of the things I’m currently doing is fine, but sometimes I want more!

That’s where my new rollerblades come in!

Running is boring, yoga doesn’t get my heart rate up too high, and walking my dog Nico is more for his benefit (even though I love our time together).

I’ve been looking for some outdoor recreational activity I can do that adds an added level of fun to make me WANT to do it every day, verses I have to do it. I want something that gets me excited as my TikTok workouts I send out to my students.

So I got myself some new rollerblades.

When I say these things are slick…I mean these things are sliiiiick. They’re pretty, and so comfortable that I have been LOVING my time outsdie in the sun cruising around my neighborhood.

The last few days I have been looking for smooth roads to ride on, so for the first week of having them finding a good route will be top priority. From there I can strap up and ride easy!

Upgrading My Ride

The rollerblades that I had in high school are currently sitting in my garage. I’ve had them for over ten years and I’ve never thought to get a new pair.

But the first time I put them on after years and years of just sitting, I remember thinking about how old and uncomfortable they were. They still worked, but they were a little small and the strap didn’t click easily making them always feel uneaven in the snug department while riding.

Funny story, the first day I ever met my fiance we went rollerblading around our apartment complex together as strangers. Fast forward to ten years to the exact day we met he took me rollerblading (with the same blades I had back then) around our neighborhood and proposed when we got back. He got down on one rollerbladed knee and all!

During our ride we actually had to make a trip back to our house, because of how uncomfortable my left foot was.

We rested for about five minutes and then set back out for another ride before we got home and got engaged.

That was the last time I wore that pair. Maybe I’ll keep them now as a keepsake full of great memories, but I knew that day that rollerblading with that pair wasn’t something I was ever going to do again.

I started looking up different kinds of rollerblades, and was really hesitant on pulling the trigger to purchase any of the ones I liked.

Eventually, after lots of reviews read I found a pair that were reputable and I liked the look so I bought them. I’m the cheapest person on the planet, but lately I’ve been telling myself to spend a little more for a better purchase.

And I am so happy I did. These rollerblades actually weren’t even that expensive, but they weren’t the basic bottom of the barrel like I would normally get.

The last few times I’ve had them on I feel like I could keep going and push my strolls longer. I think as time goes on, I’ll be increasing my ride time and distance traveled.

So in my opinion, if rollerblading is something you think you’ll want to get into make sure you have a pair you love, or get a pair with great reviews. Buying a strong solid pair that will last is a must.

Click the above image to get the same pair as me! 

Exercise Facts About Rollerblading

Rollerblading is a low impact sport that’s easy on the joints. Because it put less strain on your knees than running does, it makes it easier to perform the activity for a longer duration.

To intensify your ride, keep your knees bent and ride lower than a standing upright position. Coasting can be fun, but the workout benefits come into play when you are continuously making strides.

If you weigh 125 lbs, a 30 minute skate will burn approximately 210 calories, while a 12 minute mile will burn approximately 240. The calorie expenditure is high in both exercises, and even though it takes longer on rollerblades, for some it’s worth it. Again it’s easier on the joints, and if you aren’t a runner it is more enjoyable. Some adults with joint pain may find rollerblading to be a great experience.

You can actually perform HIIT (high intensity interval training) while rollerblading. Go as fast as you can, then slow yourself down to a manageable speed. Repeat this process for several sets and you’ve just done a rollerblade HIIT.

Major muscle groups worked consist of the quadriceps (thighs), hamstrings (back of legs), hip abductors (muscles used for moving the legs away from the body), calf muscles, glutes (butt), erector spinae (back), abdominals and obliques (waist). Movement of the arms also give you an added bonus of working the upper body, but if you are sore the next day it’s more than likely going to be in your lower body, since those muscles are working harder.

Rollerblading is recognized and recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic sport. With aerobic meaning using oxygen, rollerblading can help strengthen the lungs and heart. The body’s utilization of oxygen will also improve.

Normalize Adults Rollerblading!

I’m sure tons of adults are rollerblading all over the world. But you have to admit you see more kids blading than adults.

My goal as a PE teacher is to promote LIFE LONG HEALTH. That means my job is to expose kids to all sorts of different activities they are going to enjoy as adults once they stop playing on sports teams, and stop being as active as they once were.

Rollerblading is considered a life long activity that can be used to stay active throughout our lifetime.

We teach kids how to rollerblade not just so they can have fun from ages 5-15. But so they have more outlets to stay active as an adult to extend their lives.

I get kids ask me all the time “why do we have to learn how to play (insert sport or activity here)?” The answer is always “I teach you a wide variety of skills for you to feel confident enough to play outside of school, for the rest of your lives.”

Imagine having no sport or fitness skills. The chances of you going out to play basketball with your friends is 0. While you’re at the beach you can’t join in on a volleyball game, because you don’t know how. So many of the physical activities your friends do, you won’t. Because you either can’t, or you don’t feel confident enough with your skill set or understanding of the activities.

That’s a whole lot of inactivity during your lifetime. Which means you’re at a higher risk for health related diseases, and a lesser quality of life.

Rollerblading is just another outlet for people to enjoy physical activity.

But people won’t do it if they don’t know how. And as adults if they haven’t learned the skill of rollerblading by now, they probably aren’t going to want to try.

So my final words to you is if you’re struggling to enjoy physical activity of any kind, go buy a pair of rollerblades, and feel great while rolling around your neighborhood. I promise you will not be disappointed.

To purchase protective gear for your rides, click the above images.